Air gun automatic safety device



Oct. 23, 1951 F. MIHALYI AIR GUN AUTOMATIC SAFETY DEVICE led April 18, 1945 Oct- 23, 1951 F. MlHALYl ATR GUN AUTOMATIC SAFETY DEVICE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 18, 1945 INVENTOR FRANK MIHA'LYI @@m( AT ORNEY Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR GUN'AUTOMATIC SAFETY DEVICE Frank Mihalyi, St. Louis, M0.

Application April 18, 1945, Serial No. 588,935

5 Claims. 1

The invention relates to re ar'ms and more particularly to fire arms in which pellets or other projectiles are discharged Aby air pressure. The invention consists in novel features facilitating the feeding and discharging of pellets and in safety devices associated with the cocking and discharging of the gun.

The gun is of the type in which a stock is pivoted on a barrel or head for cooking movement from a ring position to store up power for discharging a pellet when a trigger is pressed. One object of the invention is to provide for the automatic setting of a safety device whenever the gun is cocked.

Another object is to provide an auomatic locking of the stock to the barrel or head following a cooking operation and before the gun can be discharged.

Another object is to control the trigger safety device and the stock and head locking device by the same element.

These and other detailed objects of the invention are attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section through a gun head and the stock and barrels assembled therewith, portions of the stock and barrels `being broken away. The relative position of the stock when the gun is cocked is indicated in broken lines.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail section inclined slightly from the horizontal and taken on the line 4 4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 corresponds to Figure 4 but shows the parts in a diierent position.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the forward end of the head and stock showing these parts in a position assumed during the return of these parts from a cooking operation and just prior to movement in which a pellet will be supplied to the firing chamber. Y

Figure '7 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 'I I of Figures 6 and 11.

Figure 8 is similar to Figure 7 but shows the parts in another position.

Figures 9 and 10 are vertical sections taken on the lines 9 9 and I0 I Il respectively of Figures 6 and 11.

Figure l1 is a horizontal section taken on the line I I II of Figure 6.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the transfer cylinder shown in vertical section in Figure 11.

The gun head I includes a cylinder 2 for compressing air and is fitted with a piston 3 and a strong coil spring 4 seated against the inner face of piston 3 and against the opposing rear end 2 wall 5 of the cylinder. The gun stock 6 is pivoted to head I at l. A link 8 is received in a. slot 9 in the upper face of the stock and has one end pivoted at I to the stock. The other end of the link has a finger l which projects through a slot I2 in the lower portion of the cylinder and is slidable in a slot I3 in the lower portion of piston 3. When the gun is cocked, nger II engages the shoulder I4 at therear end of slot I3 and moves the piston to the position shown in Figure 1, compressing spring 4. A sear I is pivoted at I6 to head I, and a spring Il thrusts the rear end of the sear into a notch N in the bottom of piston 3 when the latter is retracted to the position shown and retains the piston in retracted position until it is released from the Sear by movement of trigger I8 pivoted at I9 to the stock. When the trigger is pressed, the upward projection 20 thereon will turn the sear on its pivot to release the piston and spring 4 will drive the piston forward, compressing the air in cylinder 2. Y

The head I has a cylindrical forward end into which is fitted a barrel mounting part, including a cylindrical base 2l with an integral, elongated sleeve 22 adapted to receive a detachable firing barrel 23. The outer ends of sleeve 22 and barrel 23 are threaded at 24 to maintain their assembly. A downward projection 25 on the forward end of sleeve 22 cooperates with base 2I to mount a detachable magazine barrel 26. Base 2| has vertically spaced, forwardly opening recesses for receiving the inner ends of barrels 23 and 26. Restricted portions of the barrel receiving recesses open towards each other and house wedge elements 2 (Figure l0) which are forced towards each other by set screws 28 to thrust barrel 23 upwardly and to thrust barrel 26 downwardly to firmly seat them against the top and bottom of their respective recesses.

With this arrangement, barrels 23 and 26 may be readily removed and replaced by loosening screws 28. If desired, barrels of different caliber may be interchanged, it being understood that the outer vdiameter of the interchanged barrels Would remain the same so that the barrel centers would be maintained.

A cylinder 23 is rotatably mounted in head I at the inner ends of barrels 23, 26 and is provided with a plurality of chambers 36 adapted to be aligned successively with the two .barrels as the cylinder is rotated about its axis. When one of the chambers 3i] is in its lowermost position, it may receive a pellet P from magazine barrel 26, and when the chamber is in its uppermost position, it may present the pellet to the firing barrel. The inner end of each cylinder chamber 30 is apertured at 3| to provide for the passage therethrough of air compressed in 3 cylinder 2 and discharged from the cylinder through a passage 32 when the gun is fired.

Cylinder 2S is yieldingly retained in a given position by a spring thrust ball 59 which engages a selected notch in the side of an extension on the cylinder. The cylinder is rotated automatically by a ratchet-like pawl 33 pivoted at 34 on a vertically movable slide 35 in head l. A spring -36 thrusts the pawl to the left Vso thatits-.toe-engages the teeth-like elements 31 formed by lateral recesses in the cylinder extension. Vllispring 38 thrusts the slide downwardlyto the extent permitted by a screw 39 in the head and having a point received in a. slot S in the slide.

When the stock 6 is swung about its pivot 'l away fromthe head, slide 35 is moved downwardly to the extentpermitted by pin 35! and pawl 33rides overv and below `the next ratchet tooth to engage the same (Figure 7) so that when the stock is moved to the full line position shown in Figure l and slide 35 is moved upwardly, the pawl rotates cylinder '29` (Figure 8) When the stock and head are moved to the relative position shown in full lines in Figure l, they are automatically locked together by a lever 4B pivoted at 4| to swing horizontally in the stcck'and adapted, when in the full line position shown in'Figure 3, to enter an annular recess 42 (Figure 2) in a stud 43 projecting downwardly from the head. A spring thrust plunger 44 yieldingly holds lever 40 in locking position. The lever may be moved from locking position to cock the gun by manually manipulating a pin 45 slidable transversely ofthe stock so as to project from one side of the stock, as shown in full lines in Figure 3, or to project from the other side of the'stock, as shown in broken lines in Figure 3. Pin 45 is recessed to receive the left hand end of lever 4S' and the recess is long enough to provide for some movement of pin 45 transversely of the stock without affecting lever'49, but when the pin is moved tothe-extreme p-osition indicated by the broken lines in Figure 3, theY lever is swung to the broken line position indicated, thus freeing the stock from stud 43 Aand permitting the cooking of the gun.

Pin 45 also-constitutes part of a safety device best illustratedin Figures 4 and5. VThe pin has a shoulder 46 which, when the pin is inthe position shown in Figure 4, engages the rear-edge 41 of the upper portion of trigger i 6 and prevents retraction of the trigger. When-the pin is moved to the position shown in-Figure (which is intermediate the full line and dotted line positions of the pin shown in Figure 3) ,shoulder 48 is disaligned from the trigger and the trigger maybe retracted to swing sear l5 on its pivot and release piston 3 for discharge movement by its spring 4, thereby compressing the air in cylinder 2 and expelling the pellet P seated in chamber 30 at the rear of barrel 23.

The upper portion of the trigger is recessed to receive a spring thrust plunger ,49 which bears against pin 45 and frictionally retains it in either position shown in Figures 4 and 5. The pin is readily moved from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5 by light pressure on one end a of the pin, thus releasing the safety stop, and if the gun is not fired, the pin may be returned to the position shown in Figure 4 by similar light pressureon the opposite end b, thus resetting the safety stop. To cock the gun, it is necessary to apply substantially heavier pressure to end a of the pin, forcing the plunger 49 to ride up the cam surface 50 in pin 4 45, and as the pin moves to the broken line position shown in Figure 3, it engages the inner end of lever 4U and moves the outer end of the lever out of the groove in stud 43, permitting the stock to pivot on the head. If pressure on end c of pin 45 is removed at any time while plunger 49 is bearing against cam surface 50, the spring thrust plunger 44 will thrust the pin to the full line positionshown-in Figure 5.

When the stock and head are returned to the ring position, a projection 5l (Figure l) on the head engages a cam face 52 (Figures l and 3) on 'pin 45 so as to move the pin to the broken line position shown in Figure 3 at which time plunger 49 rides to the top of cam surface 5G and when projection-5l passes the lower `end of cam face 52 and releases pin 45, spring pressed plunger Y -49 thrusts pin 45 towards its original position so rapidly that a momentum results which snaps pin 45 Vto the position shown in Figure 4 so that pin shoulder 46 opposes trigger I8 and hence the lock is set each time the stock and head are returned from cooking position to ring position. At the same time, the outer end of lever 4i! rides over the tapered lower portion of stud 43 and snaps into groove-42 to lock the stock and head together.

With this structure, a single element, pin 45, controls the lock for the stock and head and controls Athe safety stop for the-firing trigger. The return ofthe stock and head from a cooking position to a firing position automatically presents a pellet to the ring barrel.

The structureshow in the drawings and described herein is illustrative, and the details of the structure may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of those modifications coming within the scope of theclaims is contemplated.

What is claimedv is:

l. In a gun, a head part, including a discharge barrel and a retractable pressure actuated discharge element and a sear for holding said element in retracted position, a stock part, a trigger, pivoted thereto, a safety device slidable in thestockfpartgtransversely of the direction of the movement of the trigger, a portion of said device engaging -said trigger to'prevent its movement when the device is in one position in said stock part, said portion being spaced from the trigger when said device is in another position in said stock part, means frictionally retaining said safety device in either yof said positions, a pivotal connection between said head part and stock part, about whichsaid parts may be swung relative to each other, a link connecting said element to a portion of said stock part spaced from said connection to move said element and store energy therein when said parts are moved relative to each other about said connection and thereby cock the gun, said trigger and safety device being `mounted on and movable with said stock part away from said sear when said head and stock parts are moved to cock the gun, and a projection on said head part, said device being in the path of movement ofsaid projection when the parts are returned to ring position and moved thereby-to trigger engaging position.

2. In a gun, a head part, including energy storing mechanism vand a sear controlling the same, a stock part, including a trigger Aand a safety device checking ithesame, a link connecting a portionof said stock part vto said mechanism,

saidzstockpartportion being movable away from 75.7saidhead part to guncocking .position tostore energy in said mechanism by movement thereof by said link, said stock part being movable towards said head part to firing position, said trigger being spaced from said sear when said parts are moved to gun cooking position and being brought into cooperative relation with said sear when the said parts are moved to firing position, said safety device being slidably mounted upon said stock part adjacent to said trigger and shiftable in said stock part from a position in which it engages said trigger to prevent trigger movement to a position in Which it clears said trigger, there being an inclined cam face on said safety device, and an element on said head part moving against and then past said cam face when the head part and the stock part are returned to firing position to thrust said safety device in one direction to clear said trigger, said safety device having a surface inclined in the opposite direction from said cam face, and a spring plunger thrusting said safety device in the opposite direction to engage said trigger when said element moves past said cam face.

3. In a gun of the class described, a head part, including a discharge barrel and a pressure storing mechanism and a stock part having a pivotal connection to the head part about which the parts may be moved relative to each other, there being a mechanism actuating link connected to said mechanism and to said stock part at a point on the latter spaced from said pivotal connection, a lever pivoted on said stock part and disposed to engage said head part to lock said parts against relative movement, a sear on said head part normally holding said mechanism against discharge, a trigger pivoted on said stock part for moving said sear to release said mechanism, a device slidable on said stock part transversely of the direction of movement of said trigger with its ends accessible respectively from opposite sides of said stock part, said member movable in one direction by manual pressure to a position in which it engages said lever and moves it against said spring to disengage the head part, a spring plunger acting against said member When in said position to move it in the opposite direction, when manual pressure is released, to another position in which it opposes said trigger to hold the same against sear releasing movement, said member being movable manually in the last-mentioned direction to a third position out of opposition to said trigger.

4. In a gun of the class described, a stock part and a barrel part having a pivotal connection and movable relative about said connection to a firing position, in which said parts are alongside of each other, to a cocking position in which said parts are angularly disposed relative to each other, a member mounted on one of said parts and shiftable to a position engaging the other part to lock the parts in firing position, discharge mechanism including a sear and a cooperating trigger, a pin slidable in one of said parts to three different positions, said pin in one position engaging a portion of the trigger to lock the same from the sear, in a second position disengaging said trigger, and in a third position moving said member to disengage same from one of said parts and unlock said parts from each other, and spring actuated means automatically returning said pin to the first-mentioned position When it is moved to said third position.

5. In a gun, a head part, including an energy storing mechanism and a sear normally holding the same against discharge of energy, and a stock part, including a trigger for releasing said mechanism from said sear, said parts being movable relative to each other to a cooking position and subsequently movable to a firing position, said energy storing mechanism being energized by the movement of said parts to the cooking position and the discharge trigger being brought into operating relation with said sear by movement of said parts to the ring position, a latch on one of said parts, a spring plunger thrusting the latch into a position engaging the other part and holding said parts together when they are in firing position, a member slidable manually on one of said parts to a position opposing the trigger to lock the same against release, and to another position to move the latch against the thrust of the spring plunger to disengage the latch from said other part, and spring means returning said member to said first-mentioned position whenever it is released from latch disengaging position.

FRANK MIHALYI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 485,043 Jonson Oct. 25, 1892 541,085 Gunn June 18, 1895 906,309 Schobbert Dec. 8, 1908 1,098,321 Heilprin May 26, 1914 1,545,465 Johnstone et al. July 7, 1925 1,761,993 Schmeisser June 3, 1930 1,816,091 Schmeisser July 28, 1931 2,196,732 Lefever Apr. 9. 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,405 Great Britain A. D. 1911 4,622 Great Britain A. D. 1906 25,783 Great Britain Sept. 7, 1911 30,338 Great Britain Oct. 5, 1911 347,882 Great Britain May 7, 1931 

